THREE POUNDS LIGHTER
by Katie Slagle, Surgery Coordinator (middle)

From a distance Juana Quino Panjoj (left), 67, looks like the majority of other Mayan woman living in rural Guatemala. She has tan weathered skin, her long dark hair pulled back out of her face, and wears beautiful, multicolor woven clothing typical to Mayan woman. As she gets closer, however, you notice something very different about her.  She has a mass almost the size of her head growing off of her lower neck and shoulder.

Juana tells us this mass has been growing for the last 20 years.  As the years progressed and the mass grew, so did the pain. The pain has restricted her abilities, and she feels like she can’t help her household as much as is expected.  With the strange appearance of the mass, her social life has become limited to family.  Sadly, even a few of her brothers and sisters refuse to have any type of relationship with her.

Juana says for years one of her sisters has urged her to have surgery, but she refused over and over again. Juana says, “I was afraid. I was afraid I would die. I was afraid they would put me to sleep and I would never wake up.” Finally, a friend of her sister told her about a clinic called Salud y Paz. He explained to them that he had surgery there and felt very safe. They took great care of him and treated him well. After hearing this Juana finally made the decision to go to the clinic for a pre-surgical consult.

Juana qualified for surgery, and after 20 years parted ways with the 3 pound mass that brought so much suffering to her life. After her surgery Juana says, “I have had a change. I feel different. I am happy and excited to complete my tasks again.” When asked if she will miss the mass, she laughs, shakes her head and says, “No, no, no, no, no, no, no.”

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